In this season when gifts are exchanged, we strive to give gifts that are both pleasing and of value to the receiver. Much time and effort and love is put into this process. We want to give the best gift possible and often frantically run from store to store, or go from website to website, just hoping to find that “perfect” gift. Should I get rubber, corded, synthetic, or wrap grips on that new set of golf irons? Standing at the blue jeans display, my goodness, what is the difference between slim fit, skinny fit, and narrow fit? And geez, who knew that buying a frying pan meant deciding between so many different types. After much frustration, you think to yourself, maybe a gift card would be best.

God has given each person who commits his or her life to Him a spiritual gift; one (sometimes more) that is the best possible gift for that person. These gifts are special abilities given to us by God, and dispensed by the Holy Spirit, to serve others, both within the Church and to the world at large. He has wired each one of us in a unique way, with a unique skill set, for a unique purpose.

The apostle Paul tells us that God has a specific purpose for every man, woman, child – “It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others” (Ephesians 2:10, TLB). Paul also says that these gifts are displayed in some tangible way when we use them as the Holy Spirit intends – “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7).

The primary texts where spiritual gifts are mentioned are Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:4-16, and as referenced in the next paragraph, 1 Peter 4:10-11. There are other “special graces” also mentioned throughout Scripture, for example – Exodus 31:3-5 (craftsmanship); 1 Timothy 2:1-2 (intercession); 1 Peter 4:9 (hospitality), along with celibacy, martyrdom, voluntary poverty.

The Bible does not specifically tell us when Christ-followers receive these giftings, but what is clear, all those who believe in Jesus Christ receive spiritual giftings – “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:10-11).

While it is unlikely that unbelievers are empowered with these same kinds of giftings, there are examples of unbelievers working in power, ways that at least resemble the supernatural ways in which God works in and through believers (Matthew 24:24; Mark 9:38; 1 Thessalonians 2:9).

Without each believer’s unique contribution, the Church and the advancement of God’s kingdom in the world will lack something of great value. Living as a Christ-follower involves being directed by, and using, the power of the Holy Spirit (Zechariah 4:6). And of great importance is that fact that while some giftings are more outwardly noticeable than others, none hold any greater value than any other.

 The word Advent means “coming,” and it is during Advent, the season between Thanksgiving and Christmas, that we expectantly await the coming of the Messiah (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25). If you have never committed your life to Jesus, will you consider doing so this Advent Season? If you are already a follower of Jesus, will you ask God’s Spirit, who lives inside you, to reveal your spiritual gift and then give you greater power to operate in it, bringing hope to those around you, in this world that so desperately needs a sense of great and lasting hope. Receiving Jesus, and this supernatural getting and giving away of gifts are the greatest gifts anyone will ever receive. 

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This is the season when we make lists of gifts that we would like to receive. As a child, most of my wish list came from catalogs. I gave my parents an extensive Christmas wish list that included catalog page numbers, just so it was very clear exactly what I wanted. Yes, I vividly remember lying on the floor with my colorful marker and a stack of mail order catalogs. While my parents were generous in their gift giving, I never got everything on my list. These days, I find it easy to provide others with a link to the item on Amazon or some other website.

Did you know that in 1845, Tiffany’s was the first mail order catalog published in the United States? Other companies added catalog operations shortly thereafter and by the end of that century, both Sears Roebuck and Montgomery Ward also began issuing their own catalogs. This year my wife and I get catalog after catalog in our mailbox, both from companies we’ve ordered stuff from in the past and ones we have never even heard of.

Have you watched a kid sitting on Santa’s lap? When asked by Santa what they would like for Christmas, frequently their answers are very specific and rather lengthy. As adults we too make lists for those buying the gifts; sometimes get what we ask for while other times the gift-giver surprises us with something they picked out. Hopefully, either way, you are pleased with the gift.

Why is it that we are not shy about asking each other for specific things, but when it comes to asking God, we either don’t ask Him at all, or we are hesitant to ask for what we really want? We often lack boldness and expectancy when taking our petitions to God.

We read these words in 1 John 5:14-15, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And we know if he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of him.” 

There is a lot packed into those two verses. Just as I did not get all the things on my childhood wish list, these two verses give a similar message; we do not get everything we ask God for, simply because we ask. It isn’t some golden ticket – ask Him for anything under the sun and shazam, we get it.

But what these verses do tell us is we can have confidence that God hears us. And “hearing” does not mean simply to be listened to, but to be heard favorably. This confidence of being heard is linked to the qualifying clause found right within the passage… “if we ask according to his will.” This lines up with how Jesus taught us to pray when He said, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be you name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-10)

What does all this mean? It is not just any prayer that is answered, but rather it is the confident prayer of a person who is in fellowship with the Father (1 John 1:3) who asks in Jesus’ name (John 14:13; 15:16), who remains attached to Jesus (John 15:7), and who obeys His commands (1 John 3:22). These kinds of prayers are not just a time of “asking” but of yielding our lives to the will and work of God.

Psalm 37:4, same message, different words – “Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

So, in these four weeks leading up to Christmas, take delight in the Lord and allow His will to work in you and through you. He knows what you need, even when it is not on your wish list. 

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Now that all that is left of the turkey is leftovers, and today being Black Friday, the Christmas Season is “officially” upon us and with it comes a roller coaster of emotions. Stress levels often hit the roof during the holidays. The holidays present us with a dizzying array of demands – we have too many gifts to buy and wrap, too many parties to host or attend, cookies to bake, a string of tangled up lights that need hung. And let’s be honest, every family has a “Cousin Eddie” who shows up at the holidays. You know, that lovable but not too sharp character from the National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation movie.

Maybe recently a loved one died and the thought of this holiday season without them weighs heavy on your heart. Or it could be that you’ve been unemployed for a long time, the bank account is drained, and you are not sure how you can afford to buy gifts. You might be struggling with a serious health issue. Your church has many activities during the holidays, and you want to participate, but there just doesn’t seem to be enough nights to get everything in. Your kids have three holiday school concerts, all different nights. Maybe you will be alone this Christmas, with nobody to share the holiday joy with. Does any of this resonate with you?

It seems like our burdens are on steroids during the holidays, everything just gets so crazy. Today we want to share the good news that we have a place to take our burdens. The word “Advent” literally means “the coming.” It is in this season of Christmas that Jesus was born; and it is about Jesus coming to you, meeting you right where you are. Yes, He meets you even in the midst of your messes and stresses.

So today, I want to share one verse to encourage you. In Psalm 55:22 we read these words, “Cast your cares upon the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”

Jesus can turn chaos into calm, dark into light, and anxiety into peace. Jesus can heal the wounds of your heart. Whatever it is that is causing you the proverbial “holiday stress,” today I encourage you to give it all to Jesus. Pray and ask Jesus, the Light of the world, the Prince of Peace, to bring light to your darkness, to be salve to your soul, to bring peace to your heart, in the midst the chaos that is often the holidays. 

Advent is about Jesus “coming” to find you to bring you the beautiful gift of a hope-filled present and future. Jesus is speaking these next words to you right now, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Run, don’t walk, to Jesus right now… He is waiting for you!

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Have you ever wished upon your Thanksgiving Day turkey’s wishbone? The tradition of breaking the wishbone dates back thousands of years to the ancient Romans who pulled apart a chicken’s clavicle in hopes of achieving good fortune. This elastic bone is the fusion of the bird’s two clavicles at the base of its sternum. It holds and releases energy as the bird flaps its wings, thus an important part of the flight mechanism. Today, folklore says that the person who breaks off the bigger piece has their wish granted.       

When you think of the word “hope” or “wish” what comes to mind? We often use the two words interchangeably, but they really are different in meaning and usage. Hope is most often used to convey the reasonable confidence that something good will happen in the future (I hope I pass my test) whereas wishing is a longing for something not likely to happen (I wish I were taller) or to express regret (I wish I hadn’t said that to her). Hope and wish are situational. They are based upon circumstances.

Unlike hope, or even wishful thinking, as most often understood in everyday language, biblical hope is not based upon situations or circumstances. It is not simply optimism or wishful thinking. Biblical hope is based upon a person, the trustworthy person of God. There are two main words used to translate hope in the Old Testament. The first is yachal, most associated with waiting on God (Job 13:15; Psalm 31:24; Psalm 130-5-7). In addition to yachal, we find qavah, which comes from the root word for cord. This verb confers the idea of the tension that comes with anticipating something.

Biblical hope is real anticipation, something you truly believe is coming. Because of Israel’s rebellion, God had hidden himself from them. Yet, despite that, the prophet Isaiah was waiting in expectancy – “I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope (qavah) in him” (Isaiah 8:17).

Micah talks of farmers who wait (hope) confidently each morning for dew to give moisture to their crops – “Then the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many peoples like dew from the Lord, like showers on the grass, which delay (qavah) not for a man nor wait (yachal) for the children of man” (5:7).

Earlier this month, I wrote about biblical hope in a slightly different way. To read that post, click here.

Biblical hope is confidence, looking forward to, and trusting in, all that God has promised. There is always tension in the waiting, but in the tension, there is also confidence. Biblical hope is hope that you can count on. 

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Let’s take a drive. This is an imaginary trip so we can choose any locale or highway. How about the Lincoln Highway, which was dedicated back to 1913, becoming the first cost-to-coast road in the United States. This highway originated in Times Square and ended almost 3,400 miles later in San Francisco’s Lincoln Park. It was eventually replaced with numbered highways, most of the route becoming U.S. Route 30, which goes from Pennsylvania to Wyoming. Today, the primary coast-to-coast highway is Interstate 80.

In Philadelphia (below), the Lincoln Highway made its way along Haldeman and Bustleton Avenues to Roosevelt Boulevard before connecting to Broad Street.

Not up for a coast-to-coast trip? Then how about the iconic Route 66? This highway (painting below) was one of the first that was numbered, established back in 1926. It originally ran from Chicago to Santa Monica, California. Today all that remains is “Historic Route 66” which runs from Illinois to Arizona. John Steinbeck’s 1940 novel The Grapes of Wrath chronicles the exodus of farmers who left the Dust Bowl during the Great Depression, traveling to California on Route 66. In 1946, Bobby Troup wrote the R&B song, “(Get your Kicks on) Route 66.”

Neither of those interest you? Then let’s try the Pacific Coast Highway. This scenic route (below) runs 656 miles along California’s coastline. Driving the PCH provides spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, with probably the most scenic stretch being between San Francisco and Big Sur. Segments of U.S Route 101 in Oregon and Washington are known as the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway.

I will leave it up to you to choose to which trip we take. If none of my trip choices are suitable to you, then how about if we just start driving, with no travel plan or navigational device, and see where we end up. Let’s use the approach, “Go west, young man,” a phrase popularized during America’s westward expansion in the 1800s.

Just start driving with no plan and no GPS – sounds ridiculous right? But, let’s be honest, we sometimes navigate our way through life that way as well – with no plan or no navigational device. At times we travel through life by simply “going west,” hoping the trip gets us “where we want to go.” And by doing so, we make bad choices, we often never get where we want to go, and we frequently encounter roadblocks, dead ends, wrong turns, missed turns, and detours along the way.

You say, “But, I do have a plan!” Can I ask, is it your plan or is it God’s plan? Psalm 32:8 tells us that God desires to be our travel guide and navigational device – “The LORD says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for life. I will advise you and watch over you’” (NLT).

The apostle Paul offers us this advice: “Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, understand what the Lord’s will is” (Ephesians 5:15-17).

(When a verse begins with the word “then,” it is imperative to go back and read the entire passage in its context, so I encourage you to read the entire section.)

I believe what Paul is saying is that a foolish person has no real strategy, no real travel plan, for life and that the foolish person misses opportunities to live under God’s direction in an evil world. A world that loves nothing more than to lead us down the wrong road.

So, today as you look at the road ahead, are you simply following the “go west” plan or will you seek God’s plan for the remaining journey?

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We live in a world that often measures success quantitatively. In sports, statistics and championships are usually the determination for whether or not a player has had a successful career. Annually, Fortune magazine releases its “Fortune 500” edition, in which American companies are ranked 1 to 500 in a variety of easily measurable categories. While none of these quantitative markers are bad measuring sticks, simply measuring success based upon numbers does not answer the questions – How good of a teammate was the numerically best player on the team, or the organization makes a lot of money, but is it a good place to work?   

Churches are often viewed as being successful based upon markers such as butts (in the seats), budgets, and buildings. Jesus followers often measure themselves and others based upon some easily quantifiable means. You know what they are for you. Again, these are not bad measurements, but I propose what I think it a better way to answer the question, “Am I a Successful Disciple?”

Let’s look at a story found in the fifth chapter of Luke. Beginning in verse 1, the story begins by telling that Jesus is preaching to the crowd gathered at a lake. The text seems to imply that Jesus felt hemmed in by the crowd so he decided to teach from a boat. Or maybe it was because this particular lake is some 700 feet below sea level so the rising land surrounding the water made it a very acoustically serviceable teaching venue.

This particular boat belongs to Simon (Peter). We also know from this text that Simon and his buddies had been out all night fishing and caught nothing. Zero. Zilch. These guys were professional fishermen; they knew how to fish and fish well. The best time for fishing is at night. They had just spent a long and fruitless night on the lake ,and in verse 4 along comes this itinerant preacher who says try again, in the daylight. Yea right Jesus, we will do the fishing, you stick to preaching and healing.  

But instead of trying to negotiate or argue with Jesus, what does Simon say? – “Master we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets” (v.5).

Verses 6-11 finish the story by telling us that Simon and his fishing buddies, after responding in obedience to Jesus, and in doing it His way, caught so many fish that their nets began to break and their boats began to sink. But I propose that even if they had caught no more fish, Jesus saw Simon as “successful” simply by his obedient response and not based upon the quantity of fish caught.

So here’s the deal. The answer to the question “Am I a Succcessful Disciple?” is very simply, obedience. And obedience is not doing something sacrificial for God. Obedience is doing (surrendering to) the will of God. Obedience is saying … But because you say so, I will.

How are you measuring your success? Are you a successful follower of Jesus?

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